Our Lady of the Blue Highways

Portrait in oils by Jackie Poutasse

Friday, May 27, 2016

WOW!!!!

Just Wow!!! I have arrived at my post at North Dickey Lake Campground.
near Eureka, MT.

I was met 2-3 minutes after stopping by swarms of handsome young men - the Trail Boss and crew. They delivered a pickup load of cut wood for my site. Soon others arrive. I’ll never be able to put names and faces together. Then Traci arrived - she works in the Ranger Station. She backed in the rig, and along with Lyle went over my duties.

The conversations was sprinkled with comments like, “but don’t worry about that now”, “but you’ll have help here then”, “later he’ll pass that job on to you, when you are ready for it”. “If you feel like it”

I gather that my main duties are to smile, be friendly and make sure there is toilet papers in the outhouses. I’m going to love it here!

Tucker was heartily welcomed, and of course he loved it.

Now, let me tell you about the campground. It’s small - only 26 sites, on a forested hill overlooking a beautiful, blue, serene lake. There is a boat dock at the bottom of the hill. I’ll check that out first thing this morning.

Photo I am so glad that I didn’t designate a specific location to work - other than the Kootenai (and I think the Bitterroot) forests. I couldn’t have picked a more beautiful site.

I’ve been to Eureka one day for the quilt show about 4 years ago. That was a unique experience. There is a “Pioneer” park in this little town where they have collected old barns, cabins and other buildings as well as equipment and odd bits and pieces, and on the Quilt show weekend - quilts are hung on and inside the barns, as well as on buildings going up mains street.

Time to shake Tucker out of bed - it’s 7:30, and he’s still curled up snug as a bug in a rug.

I’ll continue this later, and post when I get to town. I’ve got to finish setting up this morning - set the stabilizing jacks, figure out how to get into the sewer hook-up.
Huge Surprise!!! As Camp Host, the local cable company provides me FREE internet. And, it’s an excellent connection. I may re-subscribe to CBS All-access!!! I want to see this whole year of NCIS. I’ll also have no excuse for not keeping up my blog.

My refrigerator isn’t working - and I’ve had to throw out everything that had to be kept cold. All my meat, all the spaghetti sauce I had made up and packaged.

One evening a camper stopped by to see if I wanted some company. (I need to find my extra cups so I can at least offer a cup of tea!) The next day - in the rain - she sent over her husband to look at my refrigerator - we flipped it over to gas operation, and he lit the water heater as well. I’m in civilization! Showers! Ice Cream ! Whenever I want! Yippee.

It’s Sunday - on a Canadian national holiday - and the campground is empty. All the campers have left - and there is only one boat at the dock. So quiet. Let‘s see how this all lasts.

Well, here I am - procrastinating as usual. It’s been a week and I need to get this posted.

This week was quiet - I found the nearest post office, went to town and bought groceries (ouch!) - but then discovered the other grocery store - it will work very, very well.

I attended a course, and I’m now certified in first aid and CPR. I haven’t needed the training in the first half of my life - let’s hope I don’t need it in the next half, but at least I know something about it.

I met the other camp hosts in this area - they’ve all been at it for decades, most in the same campground. I have a lot to learn from them.

Tucker and I were up fighting the newly resident rat in the middle of the night.. Yes, another one. I’ve been promised a live trap to get rid of it. I’ll bait it with one of my caramels - which seems to be what it likes!!!!

I’m still not through dealing with the results of the visit from the Belt rat. And, no they are not the same rat - this one just showed up 3-4 days ago. I still have to get the A/C fixed in the truck and repair the insulation on the firewall so hot air is not blowing at me while traveling.

Yesterday, I got ready to do my rounds and told Tucker it was time to go to work. I got lost in my thoughts, and all of a sudden, Tucker stopped dead in his tracks and planted his butt on the ground and refused to go on. I looked around, and saw that I was about to pass the first toilet. Tucker knows!!! As soon as I checked it out, he moved on cheerily.

It’s Friday of Memorial Weekend, and…. It is raining, of course. But, as always, a very gentle rain - nice to walk in. The nearby mountain peaks are shrouded in fog, but there are already half a dozen boaters out on the lake.

Last weekend was a national holiday for the Canadians - we had in 3 groups of Montana Campers. This is Memorial Day, and so far, the sites are filled with Canadians, and a couple from Germany who are spending 6 months touring North America. - Even their RV is German made and licensed in Germany. Interesting.

Well - the rain just chased out the tent campers. Or, maybe they were just staying the night.

I’m going to crank up the heaters and make it toasty warm in here - and I think oatmeal would be the perfect breakfast.